Improved compound for roofing and other purposes



' poses; and I do hereby declare that the folpurposes and the like, vegetable or animal by crushing or grinding the fibers as found in nature down to a' fibrous flock or pulverent UNi'rED STATES HENRY w. JonNs, or New roam-N. Y.

- IMPROVED COMPOUND FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Q0ecificati0nforming part of Letters Patent No. 76,773, dated April 14, 1868.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY W. JoHNs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Composition of Matter for Roofing and other Kindred Purlowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention consists in compounding the fibrous mineral known as asbestus with pigments, oil, coal tar, mineral-pitch or asphaltum, wood-tar, resin, varnish, and the like, or kindred compounds of any of these with other minerals, as ground slate, marbledust, sand, clay, lime, and the like, with asbestus, as will hereinafter-be more fully set forth.

The presence of asbestus-in any compound designed as a roofing-cement, or for a purpose of similar nature, confers a tough, elastic quality to the compound, which said quality is due to the fibrous and flexible nature of the asbestus.

In those compounds intended for roofing fibers were, from their inflammable and perish-i able nature, excluded from such composition, or only used to a very limited extent. The asbestus is fireproof, im perishable, and not soluble in water, nor liable to undergo any chemical change under ordinary circumstances. It is therefore the only fit ingredient of a fibrous flexible nature for roofing and other like compounds, and when so employed not only gives body to the fluid pigments, oils, resins, or other substances of a kindred nature, entering into the compound, but also embodies such substances in fibrous mass which are tough, slightly elastic, and durable. I

Heretofore asbestus was but little known to the arts, its use being confined to the man ufacture of articles of a textile character and of limited durability; but by my invention this anomalous mineral, so abundant in nature, is utilized and made to conduce to the welfare of man.

I prepare it for mixin g with other substances mass. I then mingle it with the oleaginous, resinous, or other matter in any suitable proportions-thatis to say, in such proportion as the knowledge and experience of those persons skilled in the preparation of roofingcements and the like would dictate were they using hair or such other fibrous material heretofore used.

I desire to be understood as not limiting myself to the use of asbestus as an ingredient for roofing-cements exclusively, but contemplate its employment in the manufacture of fire-proof paint, it being mixed in due proportion with the oil and pigments heretofore used, or with the addition of such other ground or powdered minerals as my judgment may dictate. I also contemplate the use of asbestus in the manufacture of a plastic composition stood as not limiting myself to the precise quantity or number ofingredients, as the same is subject to endless modifications, all of which, however, partake of one and the same general feature, which is the employment of asbestus as a fibrous ingredient of roofing-cement, fireproof coating, or plastic compound, for stopping fissures in masonry, roofs, and making tight. the joints of metal pipes.

No. 1. Plastic cement for drain-pipes and the like: One-half pound of the viscid residuum of copal and asphaltumvarnishes, combined with three pints of partially-distilled coal-tar and one and three-quarterpound of asbestus. This is also applicable as a' coating .for roofing purposes by thinning the above ingredients down to a suitable consistence with distilled tar, naphtha, or other light oils.

No. 2. Plastic compound for stopping leaky joints and fissures: Seven-eighths of one pound of asbestus combined with two pounds of ground slate and the viscid residuum of copal and asphaltum varnishes, as in No. 15

No. 3. Plastic compound for joints of steampipes and other heated metal'connections:

PATENT Ojgtgn,

One pound of asbestos combined with onehalf pound of red lead and threegills of boiled linseed-oil or oil-foots, so called.

N o. 4. Body for fire-proof paint or coating: Three pounds of asbestus with three gills of boiled linseed-oil or oil -foots, to be reduced and mixed with pigments and applied with a brush.

No. 5. Cement body for paint or joining surfaces: Five ounces of asbestos combined with one and a half ounce of indie-rubber and one pint of spirits, as camphene, naphtha, and like solvents. 1

I also contemplate combining asbestos in suitable proportions, such proportions as would be obvious to those skilled in the manufacture of fibrous rubber paeking,v\vith the rubber, the latter being afterward vulcanizedfor use as piston-packing, air-pump valves, and

the like.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent The combination ofasbest-us with pigments, oleaginous or resinous matters or varnishes, or spirits, or ground, or powdered minerals or rubber, all substantially as described, and for the general purposes set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me.

HENRY W. JOHNS.

Witnesses ALEX. F. Ronnnrs, J. M. COVINGTON. 

